Digital dark times: Salaries in digital preservation

The Serpentine is one of the world’s most renowned art galleries. Their exhibitions as varied as Gerhard Richter, Damien Hirst, and Marina Abramović. They don’t hold a permanent collection, instead, they provide a space for temporary collections and an annual pavilion, the pavilion designed by luminaries such as Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Ai Weiwei.

Given a recent job posting it looks like they are looking at maintaining their memory better and branching out into digital preservation.

Here’s the kicker — its salary band is GBP 35,000 to GBP 38,000. So it must be an entry level position, especially in London, right?

Well, let’s see what they want you to do for that price tag…

What are we doing people?

Top of the range of this role at the Serpentine in London is 38K GBP...

No biggie! Just build the system and workflows and lead the organization in #digipres initiatives...

We just don't value this role enough to offer the money associated with the technical, the curatorial, the research, the scientific aspects, and so on... in LONDON!

#digipres #DPIP

No Ross -- independent developers and researchers are not a valid community -- get out of here with that nonsense!

#digipres #DPIP

Important tips for supporting library workers who lose their jobs from Violet Fox.

https://acrlog.org/2026/03/21/supporting-library-workers-who-have-lost-their-jobs/

#DPIP #GLAM #LibraryWorkers #JobSecurity

When you can’t pay for things the currency of payment is psychic…

Contributing back to the commons in digital preservation hasn’t been for everyone.

We know the famous XKCD that touches on the underappreciated work of maintainers in obscurity. When you, or your institutions, or services are using free and open source software, or other information and data in the commons, and you’re not contributing back, you’re perpetuating this, and what’s more, there’s a virtuous cycle that we’re missing out on.

I read something the other day and it felt like a red flag.

Pleased to say that after just 15 years since I suggested some internet nerds might want to meet up for some social drinks in a local pub, I've now officially been appointed as a Director of Digital People in Peterborough CiC.
The existing Directors do an amazing job - but it's nice to help directly rather than supporting them slightly from the sidelines...
https://danthornton.net/2025/09/from-co-founder-to-director-at-dpip-cic-in-just-15-years/

#DPiP #PeterboroughSTEMFestival

Join us on Thursday at Bewiched Coffee Fletton Quays, 12th June, 7pm 🎉

RSVP: https://www.meetup.com/digital-people-in-peterborough/events/308327067/

From speaker @drewski669 learn how to find and articulate the value in tasks that don't have an immediate, obvious benefit, and with any luck, you'll have heard a fun story about how taking one small step can make a massive difference in your life.

#ValueCreation #Peterborough #DPiP #Event #Meetup #FREE #ButterflyEffect #Community

Join us next Thursday, 12th June at 7pm for our next meetup with speaker @drewski669 🎉

RSVP here (it's FREE): https://www.meetup.com/digital-people-in-peterborough/events/308327067/

Drew will be sharing his insights on how we often underestimate the impact of one small action in our lives, but how we may feel the effects of the value it creates for years to come.

#ValueCreation #Event #Free #Peterborough #Community #Digital #DPiP #Meetup